As many as 50 international-level players will be participating in 30th All India Body Building Championship 2015-16 to be held from February 19 at Raipur Railway division,” said Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Rahul Gautam.
A total of 16 teams, including 12 from Railways and its four production units are taking part in the mega competition scheduled to be held in South East Central Railway Sports Association (SECRSA) Cricket Ground, he said while addressing a press conference here.
According to him, at least 120 players, including well-known international player Rahul Bist (gold medalist in Asia Games Body Building Championship), Vijay Bahadur (silver medalist of South Asia Body Building Championship), Ramnivash (Bronze medal holder of World Body Building Championship), Vinay Pandey (silver medal holder of South Asia Body Building Championship) and Akash Das (fifth rank holder in World Body Building Championship), are taking part in the championship.
Besides, 35 officials will also be registering their presence for judging the competition.
He further said that the closing and prize distribution ceremony is scheduled to be held in the presence of SECR General Manager Satyendra Kumar on February 21.
In order to promote sports, Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB)- a set-up of Union Railway Ministry, frequently hosts inter-railway sports events, added Gautam.
“Besides, undertaking its key works, SECR also undertakes various activities to promote sport. Presently, the zone is recruiting sports persons in 18 disciplines, including boxing, volleyball, basketball, archery, football, table tennis, lawn tennis, body building, cricket, hockey, kho-kho, handball, golf, athletics, badminton, power lifting, weight-lifting and swimming,” said DRM, adding that in last five years, around 132 players were recruited in the above disciplines.
Notably, the first All India Railway Body Building Championship was hosted by Northern Railway Sports Association in 1984 at Karnail Singh Stadium in New Delhi. The 29th All India Railway Body Building Championship (2014-15) was held at Secunderabad, SCR.
As many as 111 players participated in the championship from 11 railways and two production units.